How do you plan to keep your constituents (UMD graduate students) informed about the activities of the UMD Senate? How do you plan to learn their opinions on policies on which you will have to vote?

After senate meetings, I plan to personally relay all information discussed in the session with my fellow grad students to keep them closely connected from the voice of their elected senator. I also plan to keep my lines of communication open so that students are able to reach me with questions or concerns. Most importantly, I plan to hold semester meetings, with respect to COVID guidelines, to hear the voices of grad students and listen to their opinions about important matters and policies, especially those that require a vote from a senate member. As an elected member of the University Senate, my commitment will remain with my fellow grad students and colleagues to make sure that I am wholeheartedly keeping my promise and mission to be an advocate for the hundreds of students in graduate programs here at UMD.

Do you support collective bargaining rights for graduate assistants? If so, have you signed the Fearless Student Employees statement of support? If not, why not?

Yes, I absolutely support collective bargaining rights for graduate assistants. I have signed the Fearless Student Employees petition to show my support in the fight for change for we grad students. The work, time, dedication, and noteworthy efforts that we pour into the university each day should be appreciated with more rights, benefits, and protections as campus employees and staff, not just students and assistants.

Have you previously been involved in any form of governance at UMD, whether through committees of the UMD Senate, on the Graduate Student Government, or otherwise? If not, have you been involved in other student groups at UMD, or in student government prior to your time at UMD?

Here at UMD, I am a member of the Graduate Student Social Committee for the Center for Math Ed grad students. Also, before relocating to UMD last semester, I served as a senator for the SGA at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for the College of Education.

If elected, which UMD Senate Committees would you want to join, and why?

I would be honored to join and serve on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (EDI). As a person who believes that equity is the foundation for excellence, I would be immensely dedicated to ensuring that the University continues to expand its policies to be the most diverse and inclusive for all students, current and prospective. My vision for working with the EDI committee would be to not only guarantee accessibility for students across the campus through University policies and procedures but most importantly fight for progress in spaces that have been long overdue for change and evolvement; particularly those regarding inclusiveness, diversity, and equity.

If you could make one specific policy change during your tenure on the UMD Senate, what would it be?

I specifically would like to see more safe spaces and settings centered around support and solidarity for graduate students of color, international graduate students, and other marginalized graduate students and workers on campus.

During my undergraduate studies, I was an SGA senator for the College of Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While senator, I was able to advocate for my fellow classmates and colleagues in weekly meetings and other collegiate and community events. Post graduation, I worked with a local City Council as a School Community Liaison where I ensured education equity in schools in a rural school district. Now, as a graduate student, I believe I would be a great choice for senator to serve on your behalf because of not only my previous experience but because of my passion and dedication to activism and advocacy for not only my college, but the entire student body. If elected senator from the College of Education, I will continue to collaborate and communicate with and for members of this student body and its faculty & staff to promote the advancement of this campus and collegiate system.